gssbsecretariat@globalreporting.org
www.globalreporting.org

Item 02 – Proposed public comment
questions for the exposure draft of
the revised GRI Biodiversity
StandardFor GSSB information
Date3 November 2022

Meeting

17 November 2022

ProjectGRI Topic Standard Project for Biodiversity

Description

This document contains draft public comment questions for the exposure draft of
the revised GRI Biodiversity Standard that has been submitted to the GSSB for
information at the upcoming meeting.
Subject to approval, a public comment period will commence early December
2022 and an open questionnaire will be set up online to collect public feedback.
This document sets out the proposed questions to be included in the feedback
form. GSSB members are welcome to provide any feedback by 24 November
2022.

This document has been prepared by the GRI Standards Division and is made available to observers
at meetings of the Global Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB). It does not represent an official
position of the GSSB. Board positions are set out in the GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards. TheGSSB is the independent standard setting body of GRI. For more information visit
www.globalreporting.org.

© GRI 20222Questions for the Biodiversity
Standard exposure draft

3Question 1

45

The exposure draft of the revised GRI Biodiversity Standard includes seven disclosures about theorganization’s biodiversity-related impacts, and how it manages these impacts.

678910Each disclosure contains requirements accompanied by guidance. Guidance includes backgroundinformation, explanations, and examples to help the organization better understand the requirements.
Guidance also includes recommendations. These are cases where a particular course of action isencouraged but not required. The use of the word ‘should’ indicates a recommendation, and the word
‘can’ indicates a possibility or option. The organization is not required to comply with guidance.

111213

1.1 Are the requirements and associated guidance clear and understandable? If not, please explain
why not, and suggest any wording revisions or guidance. Please provide the disclosure number thatyour comment relates to.

141516

1.2 Are there any elements in the disclosures that you would find challenging to report? If so, please
explain what these are, provide a rationale for your comments, and suggest any wording revisions orguidance. Please provide the disclosure number that your comment relates to.

17Question 218192021The disclosures in the exposure draft of the revised GRI Biodiversity Standard are interconnected. Forexample, the operational sites with the most significant impacts on biodiversity reported underDisclosure 304-1 are the focus of Disclosures 304-1 to 304-5. Disclosure 304-5 requires a descriptionof the actions taken to manage the direct drivers of biodiversity loss reported under Disclosure 304-2.

222. Is the connection between the disclosures clear? If not, please explain what could be improved.

23

Question 324
25

The disclosures in the exposure draft of the revised GRI Biodiversity Standard require information on
the most significant impacts on biodiversity that occur in the organization’s supply chain.

2627

3. Is it feasible to report information on the organization’s suppliers? If not, please explain why,provide a rationale for your comments, and suggest any wording revisions or guidance.

28

Question 4

2930

The exposure draft of the revised GRI Biodiversity Standard includes three tables to support
organizations to report the information required under Disclosures 304-1 to 304-3.

31

4. Are the tables clear? If not, please explain what could be improved.

32

Question 533
34

The exposure draft of the revised GRI Biodiversity Standard introduces the term ‘ecosystem
conversion’ and its definition in the Glossary.

35

5.1 Do you have any comments on the proposed new term and its definition?

36
37

5.2 Are there any additional terms in the draft Standard that need to be defined? If so, please provide
a suggested definition or reference to an appropriate existing definition for the term(s).

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38Question 63940
41

6. Is there any information missing from the exposure draft of revised GRI Biodiversity Standard thatis essential for understanding and communicating an organization’s biodiversity-related impacts andhow it addresses them?

42Question743
44

7. Do you have any other comments or suggestions related to the exposure draft of the revised GRI
Biodiversity Standard?

454647

For any additional comments on a specific section of the exposure draft of the revised GRI
Biodiversity Standard, use the form below, indicating the disclosure number and line numbers.
Consider feedback on clarity, feasibility, and relevance of specific disclosures.

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